Making homemade pizza sauce is a great way to control the ingredients and flavors in your pizza. Plus, when you make a big batch, you can easily preserve it through canning and have delicious, homemade pizza sauce on hand whenever you need it. In this article, we’ll share the easiest homemade pizza sauce canning recipe so you can enjoy the taste of summer all year long.

To start, gather your ingredients:

– 8-10 pounds of tomatoes (you can use a mix of plum, Roma, or cherry tomatoes)
– 1 small onion, chopped
– 4 cloves of garlic, minced
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1 teaspoon sugar
– 1 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1 teaspoon dried basil
– 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
– 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Once you have your ingredients, follow these steps to make and can your homemade pizza sauce:

1. Begin by washing and prepping your tomatoes. If using plum or Roma tomatoes, remove the cores and cut an “X” on the bottom of each tomato. If using cherry tomatoes, simply wash and dry them.

2. Blanch the tomatoes by dropping them in boiling water for about 30 seconds, then transfer them to a bowl of ice water. Once they are cool enough to handle, remove the skins and chop the tomatoes.

3. In a large saucepan or pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and garlic and cook until they are soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.

4. Add the chopped tomatoes, salt, sugar, oregano, basil, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have broken down and the sauce has thickened.

5. While the sauce is cooking, prepare your canning jars and lids by washing them in hot, soapy water and sterilizing them in boiling water.

6. Once the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat and use an immersion blender to puree the sauce until it reaches your desired consistency.

7. Ladle the hot sauce into the prepared canning jars, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp cloth, then place the lids on the jars and screw on the bands until they are fingertip tight.

8. Process the jars in a boiling water canner for 35 minutes (adjusting for altitude if necessary). Once the processing time is done, carefully remove the jars and let them cool on a towel on the counter.

9. Once the jars have cooled, check the seals by pressing on the center of the lid. If it doesn’t flex up and down, the jar is sealed. Store any unsealed jars in the refrigerator and use them within a week.

With this easy homemade pizza sauce canning recipe, you can enjoy the delicious taste of fresh, homemade pizza sauce all year round. Whether you use it for traditional pizza, calzones, or even as a dipping sauce for breadsticks, you’ll love having this staple on hand in your pantry. Plus, it’s a great way to preserve the flavors of summer and enjoy them throughout the year.